“Raising Sand”Robert Plant & Alison KraussA breath of fresh air from two innovative performers.

Tracks: “Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us”

“Icky Thump”The White StripesJack White strikes white lightning gold with a set of mean new tracks.

Tracks: “300 MPH,” “Torrential Outpour Blues”

“Because of the Times”Kings of LeonKOL moves forward with this mix of blues and contemporary rock.

Tracks: “Black Thumbnail,” “Ragoo”

“Sky Blue Sky”WilcoA heavenly slice of Americana, by enigmatic songwriter Jeff Tweedy.

Tracks: “Sky Blue Sky,” “What Light”

“Easy Tiger”Ryan AdamsA set of classic cuts from America’s hardest working songsmith.

Tracks: “Two,” “Tears of Gold””Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace”Foo FightersDave Grohl always finds that balance between sincerity and pop.

Tracks: “Come Alive,” “Statues”

“Fear of a Blank Planet”Porcupine Tree Porcupine Tree have developed into a lean, mean, prog machine.

Tracks: “Anaesthetize,” “Way Out Of Here”

“Libertad”Velvet RevolverSlash, you still rip apart the guitar like nobody else in rock right now.

Tracks: “She Builds Quick Machines”

“The Song Remains The Same” Led ZeppelinAny chance to mention the Zep is worth taking.

Tracks: It’s Zep; which tracks aren’t good?

“American Gangster”Jay-ZJay-Z takes it to another level with this tribute to Frank Lucas.

Tracks: “No Hook,” “Roc Boys (And The Winner Is…)”